Mercury is a heavy metal that is also known as quicksilver and the elemental symbol is Hg. It is released into the environment through both human and natural activities that take place. It’s used in many of the products that are sold, and if you come into contact with large or small amounts of mercury, the effects are several diseases and damage to different systems in the body; it can also lead to death. There are also several health, and environmental implications, as well as economic and political.
Mercury is very dangerous when in contact with humans. Some of the health implications of being exposed to this heavy metal are the following. If the person has mercury toxicity, they experience problems with the brain, lungs, kidneys, and most likely with other organs and systems of the body. Some symptoms of this mercury occurrence are exhaustion, headache, neuromuscular pain and/ or stiffness, poor memory and concentration. If young children or fetuses are exposed to mercury, they may develop developmental and behavioral disabilities. The environmental implications of mercury vary as well. Mercury exists in the environment no matter what because it goes through a cycle and cannot be completely disposed of. Once its placed into the atmosphere, it stays there. Mercury is also a part of the aquatic food chain and for this reason; it affects the majority of the fish that we consume. The implications of mercury being in the environment are the possibility of mercury poisoning, depending on the amount ingested. Economic and political implications are that it’s used in many of the products sold today. However, these products that contain mercury are more expensive than the alternatives and one of the reasons is because when mercury is put into products, a safety hazardous label is required. Mercury exports would have effects on global commerce; the price would rise if the market had a scarce amount of mercury available.
Personally, I think that mercury should not be used because it has some adverse effects. Although it is used in many of the products that are used, there are many other alternatives for the majority of those products. The harmful effects override the benefits for using mercury.
Background
Mercury is used in several products and tools that we use daily. It’s important to know that there are several forms of mercury that are encountered by people. Some of those things include thermometers, certain cosmetics, teeth fillings, and because mercury is a good electrical conductor, it is used in electrical switches and relays. It is also found in something called a sphygmomanometer, which is used to monitor blood pressure; it’s used in esophageal dilators, cantor tubes and Miller Abbott tubes, which are used to clear intestinal obstructions. It’s used in feeding tubes, dental amalgam or mixtures, laboratory chemicals, and it is found in methyl mercury, which has no human use, but it pollutes our lakes and rivers, poisoning the fish.
Mercury is seen in numerous forms. They include elemental mercury vapor, methyl mercury, ethyl mercury, and inorganic mercury. The first form mentioned is the result of volcanic activity and other natural processes. It is released into the air and it is in the element form, unless it’s combined with other elements. The second form mentioned can cause adverse health effects, it’s found and can build up in the environment and is also present in some freshwater and saltwater fish and even some marine mammals. The third form mentioned called ethyl mercury can be found in some medical preservatives and this form is organic. It is also used as an antifungal agent in grains throughout parts of the world. The last form mentioned known as inorganic mercury is a form of mercury that is oxidized. This form combines with other chemical elements in order to create different salt forms.
Mercury is used in many countries and produced in several as well. The production of mercury from mining occurs in Spain, China, Kyrgyzstan and Algeria. Also in Siberia, Outer Mongolia, Peru, and Mexico.
Synthesis/Production
Mercury is produced in the following way. Mercury is extracted or mined from something called a cinnabar (mercuric sulphide), HgS that is a red mineral often mixed with other minerals. Pure cinnabar is so hard that panning when it’s in its usual form cannot purify it. It mixes, oxidizes, and volatilizes with mercury and responds to floatation. When it comes in contact with mercury, it or changes into vapor, it’s condensed, and then it gathers more. In order for a reaction to occur, it has to be at 250℃ and the product is completed when it reaches 800℃. An equation to show this reaction is HgS + O2 → Hg + SO2. Mercury differs from other metals because being distilled can purify it. Mercury can also occur from the mining and/ or refining of other metals, minerals, or natural gas that’s refined.
Mercuric iodide can be purified by three steps, which include synthesis of the mercuric oxide from mercury and iodide, then repeated sublimination and zone refining.
Mercury can be synthesized by inserting a pellet into either an aluminum sheath or a gold tube.
Gold is made by a reaction with mercury and in order for this to occur with a higher purity it has to go through something called a photoneutron process, which looks like this: “Mercury198 + 6.8Mev gamma ray > 1neutron + Mercury197 (half-life 2.7 days > Gold 197).” Another reaction is called mercuric chloride HgNO3 + 2 HCl → HgCl2 + H2O + NO2 and it makes small crystals when a heated mixture of solid mercury and sodium chloride are mixed, and then afterwards its more volatile. There is also mercuric fulminate (Hg(ONC)2), which is used in explosives.
Human Health Implications
Mercury has both several detrimental effects when it comes to the human body. Although it’s toxic, as other chemical elements, the health implications depend on the intake amount. Mercury is known as a heavy metal and because of this, it is not easily released from the body. Some of the possible dangers of coming in contact with mercury vary based on how much is ingested into the body. If a person comes in contact with mercury and they ingest large amounts, it will stay in their body for a long time. But on the other hand, if small amounts are ingested over time and they begin to build up in the body, a possible effect is the production of hair loss, and other toxic symptoms if actions aren’t taken against it. If mercury were left out in the air, a large amount would be released, which would cause complications. Inhaling mercury with air is not healthy because the lungs absorb the vapor from it. When exposed to toxins that are mercury based, this can cause damage to several systems in the body. These include the central nervous system, and other organ systems and organs such as the liver and the gastrointestinal tract. It can also have possible harmful effects on the cardiovascular, immune and reproductive system. Mercury poisoning is also known as mercurialism, hydrargyria, Hunter-Russell syndrome, or acrodynia.
One form of mercury called methylmercury is in the aquatic food chain and when people digest these foods that are part of their diet, they are exposed to it. This type is absorbed well by the body and it spreads out to all of the tissues in a matter of days and it has a half-life of 50 days of which it stays in the tissues. It eventually gets to the brain, which is it’s main objective. Once the body is exposed to inorganic mercury, the methylmercury comes out in the excrement. There is a life cycle to the depletion process of methylmercury in the body. If this form of mercury poisons an adult, first it messes up the functions and some parts of the brain. These include the visual cortex and the small, particle like layer of the cerebellum. Before the poison is noticed and symptoms start to show by the person poisoned, it takes a few weeks, or even months. Some of the symptoms of the poisoning are things like paresthesia, ataxia, limitation of visual characteristics, kidney and neurological damage, lack of coordination, and loss of hearing. There is also something called the “prenatal phase,” which refers to poisoned infants. Infants that are poisoned by methyl mercury are at risk and will most likely experience complications that range from severe cerebral palsy to developmental impediments.
Environmental Implications
Mercury has environmental implications as well as health implications. It exists in the environment because of both human and natural activities that happen daily. The amount of this heavy metal in the biosphere has increased over time. When it’s put into the environment, it stays there. The majority of the mercury that occupies the atmosphere is called elemental mercury, and it circulates in there for up to a year. The mercury that is found in plants, soil, sediments, animals, and water, which are all parts of our environment, is the inorganic form of mercury salts, methyl mercury, and organic mercury. When the inorganic form of mercury is in the air, and is in a gaseous form or combined with the particles in the air, it can be removed by precipitation. Mercury switches from land to water and goes through many processes that transform both on a physical and chemical level. These processes occur when mercury cycles through the air, land and water. The build up of mercury is a huge component to the aquatic food chain, and this mercury build affects some of the organisms that are part of this chain. The emission of mercury is the result of both waste and fossil fuel combustion. The mercury that is in local sources is from something called water discharge, and air emissions. The total amount of mercury emitted into the environment yearly and globally from the sources that give it off is 5,500 tons and the United States alone contributes to 3%, and this was taken note of in 1995.
Mercury contamination is the main component that affects fish, fish eating birds, and mammals because mercury exists in the aquatic ecosystem. It can cause problems for these organisms, complications, such as reproductive problems, damaged growth and development, behavior deviations, and can even lead to death.
Mercury reacts with oxygen when it is absorbed, but remains combined with it, and it stays in the air. When they’re combined they form mercuric oxide, and this compound is one of the mercury compounds, also known as mercury salts. Hg+O→HgO. Mercury also reacts with gold. Before gold goes through a process called amalgamation, it is simply gold dust and mud, but once it does go through this process, and reacts with mercury it turns into solid gold nuggets. 3(Hg) +2(Au)→(Hg)3+(Au)2. Mercury also reacts with chlorine, when it does, it's known as mercuric chloride, which is another inorganic mercuric compound, also a mercuric salt. Hg+2Cl→HgCl2. This reaction is not stable enough to exist as an atmospheric gas but unlike elemental mercury, its water solubility and reactivity lead to deposition from the atmosphere, and this is why this mercuric compound would have a shorter lifetime in the atmosphere than regular elemental mercury.
Mercury can’t be created or destroyed because it is an element and although it can change phases and forms, you can’t get rid of it. It doesn’t go through a degradation process. Mercury might be taken from the earth by human activities, volcanic eruption, or other natural ways but it’s always brought back, because it goes through a cycle, and comes in the form of precipitation. It’s transported to different bodies of water by erosion, and it basically goes through a similar process to that of a water cycle. Ways on a solution to this problem are being analyzed.
Economic/Political Impact
Mercury is used in most countries, but is banned in several places. There would probably be controversy if mercury were to be completely banned because there are benefits, as well as dangers, some of which can lead to death. In some parts of the world, some things that contain mercury are banned and can’t be sold. For instance, in Dane County, City of Racine, City of Ashland, and most retail stores, they nationally banned these products and reduction communities exist and are working on having products containing mercury banned. If mercury were to be completely banned in measuring instruments, there wouldn’t be any thermometers besides the digital.
There are cost effective alternatives in health care for many of the products that contain mercury. Mercury is used in thermostats, but there is an alternative called non-mercury thermostat, all different types. They include air-controlled, reed switch, vapor-filled, diaphragm, snap switch and programmable electronic. These alternatives are available and can be bought at wholesale stores, and retail heating and plumbing stores. For many of the other products hat contain mercury, there are alternatives, and they are “cost-competitive” but if products that contain mercury were to be removed from their contracts, and offering non-mercury alternatives, these different agencies can reduce the hazardous disposal costs that would be for mercury. They can also use and acknowledge other alternatives. Mercury is also used in vacuum measures that have the visible silver liquid and there are non-mercury alternatives that exist for this device and they include electronic measures, a Bourdon tube, diaphragm, and pressure measurers. There are some alternatives of mercury switches as well and they include hard contact switches, solid-state switches, electro-optical switches, inductive sensors, capacitive sensors, photoelectric sensors, and ultrasonic sensors.
Technology that is mercury free does not usually cost more, and some are less expensive than corresponding items that contain added mercury.
The ban of mercury would affect the average American because many of the things sold and bought here contain mercury and if it were to be banned, not as much money would be lost. For example, if all alternatives were introduced to the consumers, less money would be wasted. We also wouldn’t be exposed to any complications caused by coming into contact with mercury.
The countries that export this product are the countries in the EU, Spain, China, Italy, and the UK. If the exporting of mercury products was prohibited, the price of mercury would rise and the effect of this would be a decrease in demands. A mercury export ban would also have effects on global commerce, the price would rise and if the market had a scarce amount of mercury available, the prices would rise because of the lack of supply and possible demand, there would be a reduction in mercury uses and releases in the end.
Summary
Mercury has many detrimental effects, but has some benefits as well although it has more harmful than helpful. For this reason I think that the use of mercury should be reduced slowly and eventually banned in countries; however, there will be some costs and benefits if this were to happen.
If mercury were to be banned, the cost that we would have to pay would be that there would be no easy accessible products that contain mercury. An unavoidable problem that we would face would be the fact that it would still exist in the air because you cannot get completely rid of it and it goes through a cycle. There are many alternatives, rather than using products that contain mercury and they are not more expensive. These alternatives have been compared to products that contain mercury and would be replacements for specific items. Some tests showed that the alternatives are not more expensive than products that contain mercury, if anything they are less money. There wouldn’t be a loss of money because the mercury products would be replaced by a less expensive and non-hazardous substitute.
As stated before, there are also some benefits of banning this heavy metal. The benefits are that there wouldn’t be a risk of getting toxically poisoned and steered clear of several other health complications. We wouldn’t have to worry about the consequences of coming in contact with mercury, and we also wouldn’t have to worry more about the kids coming in contact with it.
In order for mercury to be reduced first and eventually banned, we would have to work with organizations or programs that are for mercury reduction and help to get rid of in small quantities.
Table of Contents
Abstract
Mercury is a heavy metal that is also known as quicksilver and the elemental symbol is Hg. It is released into the environment through both human and natural activities that take place. It’s used in many of the products that are sold, and if you come into contact with large or small amounts of mercury, the effects are several diseases and damage to different systems in the body; it can also lead to death. There are also several health, and environmental implications, as well as economic and political.
Mercury is very dangerous when in contact with humans. Some of the health implications of being exposed to this heavy metal are the following. If the person has mercury toxicity, they experience problems with the brain, lungs, kidneys, and most likely with other organs and systems of the body. Some symptoms of this mercury occurrence are exhaustion, headache, neuromuscular pain and/ or stiffness, poor memory and concentration. If young children or fetuses are exposed to mercury, they may develop developmental and behavioral disabilities. The environmental implications of mercury vary as well. Mercury exists in the environment no matter what because it goes through a cycle and cannot be completely disposed of. Once its placed into the atmosphere, it stays there. Mercury is also a part of the aquatic food chain and for this reason; it affects the majority of the fish that we consume. The implications of mercury being in the environment are the possibility of mercury poisoning, depending on the amount ingested. Economic and political implications are that it’s used in many of the products sold today. However, these products that contain mercury are more expensive than the alternatives and one of the reasons is because when mercury is put into products, a safety hazardous label is required. Mercury exports would have effects on global commerce; the price would rise if the market had a scarce amount of mercury available.
Personally, I think that mercury should not be used because it has some adverse effects. Although it is used in many of the products that are used, there are many other alternatives for the majority of those products. The harmful effects override the benefits for using mercury.
Background
Mercury is used in several products and tools that we use daily. It’s important to know that there are several forms of mercury that are encountered by people. Some of those things include thermometers, certain cosmetics, teeth fillings, and because mercury is a good electrical conductor, it is used in electrical switches and relays. It is also found in something called a sphygmomanometer, which is used to monitor blood pressure; it’s used in esophageal dilators, cantor tubes and Miller Abbott tubes, which are used to clear intestinal obstructions. It’s used in feeding tubes, dental amalgam or mixtures, laboratory chemicals, and it is found in methyl mercury, which has no human use, but it pollutes our lakes and rivers, poisoning the fish.
Mercury is seen in numerous forms. They include elemental mercury vapor, methyl mercury, ethyl mercury, and inorganic mercury. The first form mentioned is the result of volcanic activity and other natural processes. It is released into the air and it is in the element form, unless it’s combined with other elements. The second form mentioned can cause adverse health effects, it’s found and can build up in the environment and is also present in some freshwater and saltwater fish and even some marine mammals. The third form mentioned called ethyl mercury can be found in some medical preservatives and this form is organic. It is also used as an antifungal agent in grains throughout parts of the world. The last form mentioned known as inorganic mercury is a form of mercury that is oxidized. This form combines with other chemical elements in order to create different salt forms.
Mercury is used in many countries and produced in several as well. The production of mercury from mining occurs in Spain, China, Kyrgyzstan and Algeria. Also in Siberia, Outer Mongolia, Peru, and Mexico.
Synthesis/Production
Mercury is produced in the following way. Mercury is extracted or mined from something called a cinnabar (mercuric sulphide), HgS that is a red mineral often mixed with other minerals. Pure cinnabar is so hard that panning when it’s in its usual form cannot purify it. It mixes, oxidizes, and volatilizes with mercury and responds to floatation. When it comes in contact with mercury, it or changes into vapor, it’s condensed, and then it gathers more. In order for a reaction to occur, it has to be at 250℃ and the product is completed when it reaches 800℃. An equation to show this reaction is HgS + O2 → Hg + SO2. Mercury differs from other metals because being distilled can purify it. Mercury can also occur from the mining and/ or refining of other metals, minerals, or natural gas that’s refined.
Mercuric iodide can be purified by three steps, which include synthesis of the mercuric oxide from mercury and iodide, then repeated sublimination and zone refining.
Mercury can be synthesized by inserting a pellet into either an aluminum sheath or a gold tube.
Gold is made by a reaction with mercury and in order for this to occur with a higher purity it has to go through something called a photoneutron process, which looks like this: “Mercury198 + 6.8Mev gamma ray > 1neutron + Mercury197 (half-life 2.7 days > Gold 197).” Another reaction is called mercuric chloride HgNO3 + 2 HCl → HgCl2 + H2O + NO2 and it makes small crystals when a heated mixture of solid mercury and sodium chloride are mixed, and then afterwards its more volatile. There is also mercuric fulminate (Hg(ONC)2), which is used in explosives.
Human Health Implications
Mercury has both several detrimental effects when it comes to the human body. Although it’s toxic, as other chemical elements, the health implications depend on the intake amount. Mercury is known as a heavy metal and because of this, it is not easily released from the body. Some of the possible dangers of coming in contact with mercury vary based on how much is ingested into the body. If a person comes in contact with mercury and they ingest large amounts, it will stay in their body for a long time. But on the other hand, if small amounts are ingested over time and they begin to build up in the body, a possible effect is the production of hair loss, and other toxic symptoms if actions aren’t taken against it. If mercury were left out in the air, a large amount would be released, which would cause complications. Inhaling mercury with air is not healthy because the lungs absorb the vapor from it. When exposed to toxins that are mercury based, this can cause damage to several systems in the body. These include the central nervous system, and other organ systems and organs such as the liver and the gastrointestinal tract. It can also have possible harmful effects on the cardiovascular, immune and reproductive system. Mercury poisoning is also known as mercurialism, hydrargyria, Hunter-Russell syndrome, or acrodynia.
One form of mercury called methylmercury is in the aquatic food chain and when people digest these foods that are part of their diet, they are exposed to it. This type is absorbed well by the body and it spreads out to all of the tissues in a matter of days and it has a half-life of 50 days of which it stays in the tissues. It eventually gets to the brain, which is it’s main objective. Once the body is exposed to inorganic mercury, the methylmercury comes out in the excrement. There is a life cycle to the depletion process of methylmercury in the body. If this form of mercury poisons an adult, first it messes up the functions and some parts of the brain. These include the visual cortex and the small, particle like layer of the cerebellum. Before the poison is noticed and symptoms start to show by the person poisoned, it takes a few weeks, or even months. Some of the symptoms of the poisoning are things like paresthesia, ataxia, limitation of visual characteristics, kidney and neurological damage, lack of coordination, and loss of hearing. There is also something called the “prenatal phase,” which refers to poisoned infants. Infants that are poisoned by methyl mercury are at risk and will most likely experience complications that range from severe cerebral palsy to developmental impediments.
Environmental Implications
Mercury has environmental implications as well as health implications. It exists in the environment because of both human and natural activities that happen daily. The amount of this heavy metal in the biosphere has increased over time. When it’s put into the environment, it stays there. The majority of the mercury that occupies the atmosphere is called elemental mercury, and it circulates in there for up to a year. The mercury that is found in plants, soil, sediments, animals, and water, which are all parts of our environment, is the inorganic form of mercury salts, methyl mercury, and organic mercury. When the inorganic form of mercury is in the air, and is in a gaseous form or combined with the particles in the air, it can be removed by precipitation. Mercury switches from land to water and goes through many processes that transform both on a physical and chemical level. These processes occur when mercury cycles through the air, land and water. The build up of mercury is a huge component to the aquatic food chain, and this mercury build affects some of the organisms that are part of this chain. The emission of mercury is the result of both waste and fossil fuel combustion. The mercury that is in local sources is from something called water discharge, and air emissions. The total amount of mercury emitted into the environment yearly and globally from the sources that give it off is 5,500 tons and the United States alone contributes to 3%, and this was taken note of in 1995.
Mercury contamination is the main component that affects fish, fish eating birds, and mammals because mercury exists in the aquatic ecosystem. It can cause problems for these organisms, complications, such as reproductive problems, damaged growth and development, behavior deviations, and can even lead to death.
Mercury reacts with oxygen when it is absorbed, but remains combined with it, and it stays in the air. When they’re combined they form mercuric oxide, and this compound is one of the mercury compounds, also known as mercury salts. Hg+O→HgO. Mercury also reacts with gold. Before gold goes through a process called amalgamation, it is simply gold dust and mud, but once it does go through this process, and reacts with mercury it turns into solid gold nuggets. 3(Hg) +2(Au)→(Hg)3+(Au)2. Mercury also reacts with chlorine, when it does, it's known as mercuric chloride, which is another inorganic mercuric compound, also a mercuric salt. Hg+2Cl→HgCl2. This reaction is not stable enough to exist as an atmospheric gas but unlike elemental mercury, its water solubility and reactivity lead to deposition from the atmosphere, and this is why this mercuric compound would have a shorter lifetime in the atmosphere than regular elemental mercury.
Mercury can’t be created or destroyed because it is an element and although it can change phases and forms, you can’t get rid of it. It doesn’t go through a degradation process. Mercury might be taken from the earth by human activities, volcanic eruption, or other natural ways but it’s always brought back, because it goes through a cycle, and comes in the form of precipitation. It’s transported to different bodies of water by erosion, and it basically goes through a similar process to that of a water cycle. Ways on a solution to this problem are being analyzed.
Economic/Political Impact
Mercury is used in most countries, but is banned in several places. There would probably be controversy if mercury were to be completely banned because there are benefits, as well as dangers, some of which can lead to death. In some parts of the world, some things that contain mercury are banned and can’t be sold. For instance, in Dane County, City of Racine, City of Ashland, and most retail stores, they nationally banned these products and reduction communities exist and are working on having products containing mercury banned. If mercury were to be completely banned in measuring instruments, there wouldn’t be any thermometers besides the digital.
There are cost effective alternatives in health care for many of the products that contain mercury. Mercury is used in thermostats, but there is an alternative called non-mercury thermostat, all different types. They include air-controlled, reed switch, vapor-filled, diaphragm, snap switch and programmable electronic. These alternatives are available and can be bought at wholesale stores, and retail heating and plumbing stores. For many of the other products hat contain mercury, there are alternatives, and they are “cost-competitive” but if products that contain mercury were to be removed from their contracts, and offering non-mercury alternatives, these different agencies can reduce the hazardous disposal costs that would be for mercury. They can also use and acknowledge other alternatives. Mercury is also used in vacuum measures that have the visible silver liquid and there are non-mercury alternatives that exist for this device and they include electronic measures, a Bourdon tube, diaphragm, and pressure measurers. There are some alternatives of mercury switches as well and they include hard contact switches, solid-state switches, electro-optical switches, inductive sensors, capacitive sensors, photoelectric sensors, and ultrasonic sensors.
Technology that is mercury free does not usually cost more, and some are less expensive than corresponding items that contain added mercury.
The ban of mercury would affect the average American because many of the things sold and bought here contain mercury and if it were to be banned, not as much money would be lost. For example, if all alternatives were introduced to the consumers, less money would be wasted. We also wouldn’t be exposed to any complications caused by coming into contact with mercury.
The countries that export this product are the countries in the EU, Spain, China, Italy, and the UK. If the exporting of mercury products was prohibited, the price of mercury would rise and the effect of this would be a decrease in demands. A mercury export ban would also have effects on global commerce, the price would rise and if the market had a scarce amount of mercury available, the prices would rise because of the lack of supply and possible demand, there would be a reduction in mercury uses and releases in the end.
Summary
Mercury has many detrimental effects, but has some benefits as well although it has more harmful than helpful. For this reason I think that the use of mercury should be reduced slowly and eventually banned in countries; however, there will be some costs and benefits if this were to happen.
If mercury were to be banned, the cost that we would have to pay would be that there would be no easy accessible products that contain mercury. An unavoidable problem that we would face would be the fact that it would still exist in the air because you cannot get completely rid of it and it goes through a cycle. There are many alternatives, rather than using products that contain mercury and they are not more expensive. These alternatives have been compared to products that contain mercury and would be replacements for specific items. Some tests showed that the alternatives are not more expensive than products that contain mercury, if anything they are less money. There wouldn’t be a loss of money because the mercury products would be replaced by a less expensive and non-hazardous substitute.
As stated before, there are also some benefits of banning this heavy metal. The benefits are that there wouldn’t be a risk of getting toxically poisoned and steered clear of several other health complications. We wouldn’t have to worry about the consequences of coming in contact with mercury, and we also wouldn’t have to worry more about the kids coming in contact with it.
In order for mercury to be reduced first and eventually banned, we would have to work with organizations or programs that are for mercury reduction and help to get rid of in small quantities.
Public Service Announcement
Citations
Preventive Measures of Mercury
Using Mercury- for recreational gold prospecting
ATSDR-ToxFAQ™-CABS-Mercury
Where do the world's supply of mercury come from?
Mercury (element)-Wikipedia
MERCURY_ELECTRON_DIAGRAM
Mercury Toxicity
Mercury Exposure
Purchasing for Pollution Prevention
Mercury Alternatives
WDNR-Mercury: Wisconsin Mercury Reduction Program
Mercury(ll)_Chloride
Purification of Hgl2
Studies of High Temperature
Zero Mercury Campaign- Mercury Fact Sheet
Mercury: major issues in environmental health
Mercury Poisoning
Mercury Contamination Moves Beyond Fish
Mercury Report to Congress
The Real Price of Gold
[PSA images]:
mercury_poison_image from PSA
mercury_warning_image from PSA
mercury_exposure_image from PSA
StopMercuryWeb_image from PSA